Hanger support apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for supporting a plurality of hangers, for example coat hangers, displaced vertically from each other such that the amount of hanger rack space required for a given number of hanger supported items (e.g. clothes) is reduced, and such that the hanger supported items are more readily observable. Such apparatus including an improved hanger having structure integral therewith for supporting a second hanger displaced vertically therefrom, and also including a discrete hanger support for use in cooperation with two hangers whereby such two hangers are displaced vertically with respect to each other.

United States Patent 1,290,433 1/1919 Walker 248/360 1,927,578 9/1933 Thompson. 248/302 X 2,626,175 1/1953 Jessop 248/317 X 2,753,143 7/1956 Berlt 248/317 Primary Examiner-William H. Schultz Attorney-Mam and Jangarathis ABSTRACT: Apparatus for supporting a plurality of hangers, for example coat hangers, displaced vertically from each other such that the amount of hanger rack space required for a given number of hanger supported items (e.g. clothes) is reduced, and such that the hanger supported items are'more readily observable. Such apparatus including an improved hanger having structure integral therewith for supporting a A second hanger displaced vertically therefrom, and also including a discrete hanger support for use in cooperation with two hangers whereby such two hangers are displaced vertically with respect to each other.

HANGER SUPPORT APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY The present invention comprises apparatus including means providing an opening for receiving the hook portion of a hanger and for supporting said hanger displaced vertically with respect thereto.

The present invention achieves an economy of hanger rack space for a given number of hanger supported items and provides for the ready display of the hanger supported items and provides for the ready display of the hanger supported items.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

FIGS. 1-4 are plan, front, perspective and side views of a hanger support embodying the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a composite showing front and side views of hangers, and hanger supported items, positioned by the hanger support of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of the prior art; and

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of an improved coat hanger embodying the present invention.

Detailed Description Referring initially to the prior art and FIG. 6, hangers, such as coat hangers H, are typicallysupported ona hanger rack R by being disposed horizontally with respect to each other, Even when a group of hangers H have been collected together, such as by a customer identifying band B, an undesirably large amount of hanger space A is occupied by a given number of hanger supported items such as the clothes C.

Horizontaldisposition of the hangers H typically results in large quantities of space existing below the clothes C remaining wastefully unutilized. Further, such horizontal disposition of the'hangers H, particularly when banded together, render the hanger supported items difficult to observe both for determining the presence and condition of the hanger supported items.

The present invention may be embodied in a discrete hanger support such as shown in FIGS. 1-4, for use with hangers known to the prior art, and may also be embodied in the improved hanger of FIG. 7.

Referring now to FIGS. I--4, there is shown hanger support 5 embodying the present invention. The hanger support S is structured so as to provide a first opening 01 for receiving the hook and neck portion N of a first hanger, and a second opening 02 for receiving the hook portion D of a second hanger, as

may be best seen in FIG. 5.

As may be best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first opening 01 is substantially rectangular in cross shape and approximately three-fourth inch in length and approximately three-eights inch in width. The second opening 02 is substantially circular and approximately three-eighths inch in height, and is disposed vertically below and substantially 90 with respect to the first opening 01.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 5, there is shown a plurality of coat hangers H disposed vertically withrespect to each other and further showing the hangers H2 and H3 supported vertically by the hanger support S embodying the present invention. As will be appreciated from FIG. 5, the first opening 01 of the hanger support SI receives the hook and neck portion N of the first hanger H1 whereby the hanger support S1 is itself supported by the hanger H1. The second opening 02 of the first hanger support 51 receives the hook portion D of the second hanger H2 whereby the second hanger H2 is supported by the hanger support SI. Similarly, the hanger support S2 is supported by the hanger H2 and the hanger support S2 in turn supports the hanger H3. When the hangersand hanger supports are so supported, the hangers H, and the hanger supported items, such as the clothesC, are disposed vertically with respect to each other whereby the hangers and hanger supported items occupy the smaller rack support space E, as compared with the aforementioned rack space A of FIG. 6, and unlike the aforedescribed prior art, the hanger supported items or clothes C may be readily observed as to their presence and condition.

Referring again to FIGS. 1--4, the hanger support S cmbodying the present invention may be constructed of a suitable wire, or wirelike member, shaped as shown by suitable machinery known in the art. Additionally, the hanger support S embodying the present invention could be constructed of a suitable plastic by any one of several plastic shaping operations known to the art. Further, as may be best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the opening 02 is positioned substantially underneath the structure providing the opening 02 so as to prevent undesirable engagement of the opening 02 with adjacent hangers and hanger supported items.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown an alternate embodiment of the present invention wherein the aforedescribed hanger support is formed integrally with a hanger thereby providing an improved hanger.

As may be seen in FIG. 7, the improved hanger comprises the hanger structure known in the art, but in addition, the wire or wirelike member which comprises the hanger structure also provides, by suitable shaping, the substantially circular opening 03 for receiving the hook portion D of another hanger in the same manner as the opening02 of the above-described hanger support S. Accordingly, it will be understood that a plurality of the improved hangers of FIG. 7 will provide the same vertical displacement of hangers, and observability of presence and condition of hanger supported items, as indicated in FIG. 5, with the same attendant saving of horizontal hanger rack space.

As indicated in FIG. 7, the opening 03 is approximately three-eighths inch in height, and may be substantially circular as described above or of modified circular shape but of sufficient .width to accommodate the hook portion D of a hanger supported thereby and displaced vertically therefrom.

Many modifications and variations of the method of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. it is therefore to be understood, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Iclalm:

I. A hanger support for supporting hangers displaced vertically with respect to each other, comprising:

' first means providing a first opening for receiving the neck portion of a first hanger,

said first opening being substantially rectangular and approximately three-fourths inch in length by three-eighths inch in width,

second means providing a second opening for receiving the hook portion of a second hanger to support said second hanger displaced vertically with respect to said first hanger,

. said second means being displaced vertically below and substantially with respect to said first opening, and

said second opening being substantially circular and approximately three-eighths inch in diameter, the axis of the second opening being substantially parallel to the long dimension of the first opening. 

1. A hanger support for supporting hangers displaced vertically with respect to each other, comprising: first means providing a first opening for receiving the neck portion of a first hanger, said first opening being substantially rectangular And approximately three-fourths inch in length by three-eighths inch in width, second means providing a second opening for receiving the hook portion of a second hanger to support said second hanger displaced vertically with respect to said first hanger, said second means being displaced vertically below and substantially 90* with respect to said first opening, and said second opening being substantially circular and approximately three-eighths inch in diameter, the axis of the second opening being substantially parallel to the long dimension of the first opening. 